Abstract: A method of assembling a gear train including at least two shafts each journaled in at least one gear and bearing, in a support assembly, comprising forming openings in the support assembly having cross sectional areas greater than the cross sectional areas of the bearings, positoning the bearings in the openings, meshing the gears to provide a desired clearance and alignment of the shafts, inserting a moldable, hardenable material in the openings between the support assembly and the bearings and then hardening the material to fix the position of the bearings and, correspondingly, assure the desired clearance of the gears and alignment of the shafts without requiring accurate machining of the openings in the support assembly.

Abstract: A power shovel comprising a body; a front end assembly mounted on the body including a dipper; means for crowding the dipper; means for hoisting the dipper; and an energy regeneration system including an energy storing means and means actuated by a predetermined movement of at least one component of the front end assembly for charging the energy storing means, the energy storing means providing in the loaded condition a force applicable to a component of the front end assembly for at least biasing such component toward a predetermined movement.

Abstract: A power shovel including a stiffleg, a dipper handle operatively connected to the stiffleg, a dipper having a forwardly disposed digging end pivotally connected to the dipper handle, the dipper being biased to pitch the forwardly disposed digging end thereof upwardly, means for limiting the upward pitch of the digging end of the dipper relative to the dipper handle, a hoist frame pivotally connected to the stiffleg, and a hoist link pivotally connected at the ends thereof to the hoist frame and to the dipper defining a four bar linkage.

Abstract: An improved boom support for a walking dragline excavator having a roller circle, a frame mounted on the roller circle for swing movement about the axis of the roller circle, a boom having a pair of boom feet connected to a front end of the frame and proximate to a segment of the roller circle, a hoist line connected to hoist machinery on the frame and passing over a point on the boom, a bucket connected to the hoist line, a dragline interconnecting the bucket and drag machinery on the frame, the front end of the frame having insufficient stiffness for adequately resisting deflection and substantially uniformly distributing the boom weight and hoist load imposed thereon over a segment of the roller circle disposed beneath the front end of the frame, the boom support including an upright structure having an upper end and a pair of legs connected to the frame, the upper end of the upright structure being connected to the pendants and to the frame rearwardly of the leg connections, the leg connections of the upr

Abstract: In a machine having an upper moveable frame, a frame for supporting the upper moveable frame including a rigid grid structure, an upper plate disposed on and rigidly secured to the grid structure and a pad for supporting the upper moveable frame, such support pad being disposed unattached to the grid structure and rigidly attached to the upper plate.

Abstract: A crowd system for a power shovel having a front end assembly including a dipper mounted on a body, and means mounted on the body and operatively connected to the front end assembly for hoisting and lowering the dipper, comprising a mast pivotally connected at a lower end thereof to the body, at least one connecting link pivotally connected at opposite end thereof to the mast and the front end assembly, at least one support link pivotally connected at a lower end thereof to the body, a drive link pivotally connected at opposite end thereof to the mast and the support link, a gantry mounted on the body between the mast and the support link, at least one fluid actuated, piston and cylinder assembly pivotally connected at one end thereof to the gantry at a point elevated relative to a support platform of the body, and pivotally connected at the opposite end thereof to the drive link, and means for selectively supplying fluid under pressure to the opposite ends of the cylinder of the piston and cylinder assembly

Abstract: A machine of the dragline, shovel, or crane type having a body rotatably mounted upon a base with a padded live roller circle interposed between the body and base to facilitate rotation of the body. The roller circle includes flat, segmental upper and lower rails with resilient and compressible pads between the rail segments and the respective body and base, and a roller cage between the rails having rollers which are generally cylindrical and in bearing contact with the rails, the rail segment pads permitting movement of the segments to distribute local loads to adjacent rollers. The rails are clamped to the body and base by means of yieldable clamping means, and the cage is guided in its circular travel path by yieldable guide means.

Abstract: In a power shovel having a crowd system for crowding and retracting a dipper and a hoist system for hoisting and lowering such a dipper, a system for limiting the motion of the dipper generally comprising means operatively interconnecting a crowd componment movable between predetermined crowd and retract limits and crowd control lever responsive to a movement of the crowd component between the pedetermined limits of movement thereof for increasingly biasing the crowd control lever steadily away from an operative position thereof, as the crowd component approaches one of the predetermined limits of movement thereof, means operatively interconnecting a hoist control lever and a hoist component movable between predetermined upper and lower limits responsive to a movement of the hoist component between the limits of movement thereof for increasingly biasing the hoist control lever steadily away from an operative position thereof as the hoist component approaches one of the predetermined limits of movement thereof

Abstract: A power shovel comprising a body; a front end assembly mounted on the body including a dipper; means for crowding the dipper; means for hoisting the dipper; and an energy regeneration system including an energy storing means and means actuated by a predetermined movement of at least one component of the front end assembly for charging the energy storing means, the energy storing means providing in the loaded condition a force applicable to a component of the front end assembly for at least biasing such component toward a predetermined movement.

Abstract: A front end loader having a load supporting member, such as a boom, to which is attached an excavating bucket that is to be extended, retracted, elevated and lowered relative to the vehicle. The boom member is attached at one end to a first set of circular gear segments which may be rotated by power means to extend the boom member and thus the bucket attached thereto to impart substantially linear motion to the bucket attached thereto to impart substantially linear motion to the bucket for crowding the bucket into the material to be handled by the loader. A second set of circular gear segments pivotal about the same axis as the first set of gear segments is connected to the boom through lift links which, upon rotation of the second set of gear segments in a clockwise direction and rotation of the first set of gear segments in a counterclockwise direction will assist in extension of the boom relative to the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle for traversing rough terrain, such as is commonly found in open mining operations and highway construction work. The vehicle is characterized by a movable frame structure. The frame includes a pair of elongated side members which are joined in a spaced apart relationship near the rear of the frame members by a first crossmember which is provided with a pivotal joint to permit the side members to rotate or pivot relative to each other. The front ends of the side members are connected by second and third crossmembers, each of which is pivotally connected at both ends to the side members to provide lateral restraint to the side members while the vehicle is traversing rough terrain. The second and third crossmembers are vertically displaced to prevent relative rotation of the side members about their longitudinal axes while permitting up and down movement of the forward ends of the side members as the side members rotate about the pivot point in the first crossmember.